[opensource-dev] oh give me a break

[Vex Streeter]

Excellent discussion, Thomas - I think I concur on every point.

I'd add, however, that I think LL could tweak the economic model to 
discourage for-profit content theft.  Perhaps requiring that account be 
verified in order to convert L$ to real world currency or even a monthly 
L$ transaction limit.  No, I haven't thought about it very deeply, but 
since DRM is so often counterproductive, perhaps cracking down on the 
money laundering side of the equation would be a better (and much less 
intrusive) approach.

Event so, such things do not (and cannot) address the problem of people 
who rip off content without profit motive. The basic truth is that some 
content requires more up front time and effort than a service-based 
economic model can support. I've never heard a cogent argument from the 
"everything digital should be gratis" crowd on how they thing such 
things ought to be funded.

Speaking as someone whose RL work has been ripped off and is widely 
distributed for free, I *really* wish I had the same options that SL 
could offer in the real world.

Cheers,
    Vex

Thomas Grimshaw wrote:
> This post is likely to incur some feelings of emotions in a lot of you; 
> I ask that you bear with me and be open minded towards these words. I 
> recognise that many of you won't agree with me; it is but an attempt to 
> try and shine a searchlight into the hysteria.
>